LAS VEGAS — Michelle Wie gave a $500,000 check to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, then played a round of golf with Bill Clinton. The former president called the 16-year-old Honolulu golfer an "inspiration."

Wie, who turned pro Oct. 5, presented the check to Clinton at the Southern Highlands Golf Club yesterday.

"I just saw clips of it (the devastation) and I really wanted to help out," Wie said. "I really do hope it helps a lot of people. ... Compared to all the disaster, it's such a little amount of money."

Clinton said in a statement: "I want to thank Michelle for this very generous contribution to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. There are many people in the Gulf region who are in need and who will benefit from Michelle's extraordinary generosity. She's truly an inspiration on and off the course."

Wie's next competition is the 2005 Casio World Open on the Japan Golf Tour from Nov. 24 to 27.